I don't think it takes an MFA to be a good writer. But an apprenticeship could help. I'm not even sure a BA is required. Lots and lots or reading various sources and comparing styles, use of language, etc. would avoid a college education. Off the top of my head. It's not quantum theory.

I have never used infinity as anything more than unboundedness. — jgill

In Calculus 1 classes, there is not a concern that the subject be axiomatized. But if we are concerned with having the subject axiomatized, then the ordinary mathematical context is one in which there are infinite sets. — TonesInDeepFreeze

I'm not sure how your post relates to my quote. To clarify, I've taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in (mathematical) analysis and published papers in the subject, and I have only very rarely had to resort to a transfinite argument or even read such an argument. In fact, the only time I can recall is the Hahn-Banach theorem in the functional analysis grad course I took many years ago. The proof involves the Hausdorff Maximal Principle (i.e. Axiom of Choice or Zorn's Lemma) and even there if one strengthens the hypotheses just a tad HMP or AOC or ZL can be avoided.

All math majors learn a little naive set theory and some ZFC these days, so mathematicians and students work in an environment underlaid by the fundamentals of the real line. It's just that conversations involving cardinalities beyond ${{\aleph }_{1}}$ don't usually occur in classical or even much of modern analysis.

Wiki says this:

The aleph numbers differ from the infinity ( ∞ {\displaystyle \,\infty \,} {\displaystyle \,\infty \,}) commonly found in algebra and calculus, in that the alephs measure the sizes of sets, while infinity is commonly defined either as an extreme limit of the real number line (applied to a function or sequence that "diverges to infinity" or "increases without bound"), or as an extreme point of the extended real number line.

to organize the unformed Potential of the Singularity — Gnomon

Interesting to learn of the various ways the word Singularity is used. In the simplest math it's just where a denominator equals zero. But in the complex plane the function $f(z)={{e}^{\frac{1}{z}}}$ is a world of trouble for
$z=0$

Sin(x)/x as x approaches zero is an entity itself, a ratio that converges to one. Look at the simpler ratio (x^2)/x as x approaches zero. It's an indeterminate form that reduces to x, so goes to zero.

↪jgill
To make a case for thinking that the harms are post mortem. That would then constitute some evidence that we survive our deaths — Bartricks

So an argument that begins, "Assuming part of us suffers after death . . ." is evidence we survive our deaths? :roll:

We do not know what death does to us. — Bartricks

So why begin this thread?

It is speculated (theorized?) that time began with this event called the BIg Bang, as did space, in the context of spacetime. So there is no "before" the BB. So originally there was complete monism that fragmented as time progressed. Well, just more babble (rubble) I suppose.

See? You started an entertaining discussion that drew in some pretty good thinkers. Probably better than paying a PhD student. :cool:

Once again, calculus is about LIMITS, — jgill

True, but in many a calculus problem and theorem the limit IS infinity. — god must be atheist

Normally $x\to \infty$ arises in the following context:

$\underset{x\to \infty }{\mathop{\lim }}\,f(x)=L\text{ }\Leftrightarrow \text{ }For\text{ }\varepsilon \gt0\text{ }\exists M\gt0\text{ }such\text{ }that\text{ }x\gt M \Rightarrow \left| f(x)-L \right|\lt\varepsilon$

or $\underset{x\to \infty }{\mathop{\lim }}\,\,f(x)=\infty \text{ }\Leftrightarrow \text{ }For\text{ }N\gt0\text{ }\exists M\gt0\text{ }such\text{ }that\text{ }x\gt M\Rightarrow \left| f(x) \right|\gt N$

Infinity as a mathematical object is not used in calculus with one exception that I can think of, in complex analysis (calculus of complex variables) where the "point at $\infty$" corresponds in a projective sense with the north pole of the Riemann sphere.

That can't be true. Calculus is all about infinity — T Clark

I was thinking the same thing. — god must be atheist

Once again, calculus is about LIMITS, as my mathematical genealogical ancestor, Karl Weierstrass would have explained.

That damn lemniscate and the problems it produces . . . :roll:

'Error' is constitutive of disorder & foolery, no? — 180 Proof

I type an "a" instead of an "s". Am I displaying disorder or foolery? Do I compare with Putin's error in Ukraine? Are "error" and "mistake" synonymous? The latter can be a verb as well.

That makes the real numbers a challenging and intriguing subject. — jgill

Maybe not as challenging as you think. — keystone

I was speaking of currently accepted set theory, not challenges of it.

Here is a start. But it's pretty simplistic.

A good topic for TPF I would think.

I have never used infinity as anything more than unboundedness. — jgill

That can't be true. Calculus is all about infinity. — T Clark

$x\to \infty$ means x gets larger without bounds. Limits

Perhaps I should have written that I believe it is impossible to imagine assembling points to form a continuum. A bit of magic is needed to make the leap from a finite collection of points forming nothing to an infinite collection of points forming a continuum. — keystone

That makes the real numbers a challenging and intriguing subject.

God = ∞. — Agent Smith

The tone of the OP does not suggest Cantor's theological nonsense.

Thanks and sorry for posting a topic which is not a typical discussion — keystone

And refreshing it is for these times. Not a mention of God or Jesus or climate change.

I was a professional mathematician for many years, focusing on complex analysis, teaching and writing a few papers, and still do modest research. And although I accept ideas like the set of real numbers and associated cardinalities, I have never used infinity as anything more than unboundedness. To all intents and purposes my mathematics has been infinity free.

The forum has had a number of discussions about this topic, but that's no reason for you to avoid bringing it up in a new thread or resurrecting an old thread. There are some sharp people here.

Is it even a matter of set theory? — Michael

Starting off with a proposed "set of everything" I would say yes. Beyond that the discussion is mostly the typical banter about the definitions of words seen on the site. No big deal. Philosophy of mathematics? Questionable.

Whatever you put into a sewer, what you get out is sewage, Is that really the analogy you were looking for? — Janus

I never heard this one, but from CS there is the equivalent and more or less standard that's been around forever: Garbage

I notice the set theorists on TPF are keeping their distance from this thread. :cool:

I have no regrets studying literature and social sciences. Academia is like a sewer: what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. — Bitter Crank

And there lies a tale to be told :wink:

Suppose that all that exists forms a set. — Kuro

I question whether that is actually a set in ZFC. A neighbor of Russell's paradox perhaps.

Now that you have taken your slice of humble pie and realized that you don't know what death does to person, stop discounting the possibility that you survive it and suffer terribly. — Bartricks

:scream: :rofl:

I believe that the majority of the harms that death visits on a person are post-mortem — Bartricks

To be harmed or hurt requires feeling physical or emotional pain. You seem to be saying that a person is alive to these sensations after they die. "harms the death visits" is poetic, but confusing.

↪jgill
So the hermit's death is a great harm to the hermit. It won't harm anyone else. It will harm him.

And it will harm him, will it not, even if he has no plans that killing him with thwart.

And it will harm him even if he isn't particularly enjoying his life.

So, it will harm him even if it deprives him of nothing.

Thus, the harm of death cannot reside primarily in what it deprives a person of. For it harms those it deprives of nothing worth having. — Bartricks

Sounds like Clint Eastwood in The Unforgiven. Good points. What I am saying is it does no harm to him after he ceases to exist.

The thing about lucid dreams is the spectrum they constitute. On one end there's a normal dream you seem to be able to control slightly. At the other end is an experience in which you wake up and move around as if in a heightened reality, feeling and seeing things as solid objects and fully aware. This is an astounding experience that will stay with you to the end of your days.

↪jgill
Explain to me how the hermit themselves is harmed by being killed on your view - explain it without contradicting yourself. — Bartricks

I yield. Carry on. :roll:

Doesn't make it stop working as it does, until enough people change the way they perceive the value of paper, things will remain as they are. — Manuel

I can't help but recommend the Spanish series, Money Heist, on Netflix.

↪jgill
So, just to be clear, your view is that killing an unknown hermit does not harm whatsoever to the hermit? — Bartricks

Nonsense. I was speaking of postmortem harm to the individual who dies. After death that person is no more and will endure no more harm.

Richard Dawkins (evolutionary biologist, atheist, author, science educator) has gone on record saying that chimps are our cousins. — Agent Smith

Sounds right. Maybe the Dems will put Cheeta up for election in '24. That might turn the tide.

Once again, four dimensional Euclidean space is not the same as four dimensional spacetime.

Can modern computers be used for purposes of Magick? — Bret Bernhoft

Magick in Computers :roll:

I've spoken of this before, so I won't bore the reading audience. Castaneda's the Art of Dreaming works. Almost fifty years ago and the initial experience is still fresh, an alternate mindscape.

But this was just a stage for these boys, was it not? — universeness

For some, yes, for others it was the beginning of a lifestyle. Dirtbagging, on the other hand, was and is popular in the US and once again its advocates can go different directions with their lives. I've known some who never really departed that realm, even after improving their finances. And a few who were good friends became wealthy beyond reason because of their drive and intelligence. (The most spectacular being Yvon Chouinard, who, when we camped and climbed together, lived on fifty cents a day, while I lived on a dollar a day. He and his wife created Patagonia and are now billionaires.)

Are you talking of those with psychological problems, addictions etc. Are you happy to let such people self-destruct? — universeness

Of course not. I'm talking about those who are capable but do not supply goods, or services, or entertainment to society but want society to support them while they play. In an automated Utopia perhaps, but not today.

Banned Yozhura for incoherent, delusional, low quality posts. — Xtrix

I thought he might have been AI. Reads like some of the stuff from Sokal.

I would like to know what people think of C.S. Lewis's argument for the divinity of Christ. — Dermot Griffin

Weak sauce. His argument begins with a questionable assumption that a mere mortal could not be a great moral teacher.

Whether Christ existed or not his image and the words attributed to him have shaped the ages.

Train in sports to represent you community in friendly physical competitions. Train in philosophy and take part in on-line debates so you can contribute to teaching others about such important topics. why can these not be called jobs for which you are paid the UBI? — universeness

I was in Buxton for a mountaineering conference in 1985, and met a number of young Brit lads who had pooled their doles to rent houses and go climbing full time. They weren't representing communities - just playing in the mountains and on the cliffs. I didn't envy them - primarily because I wanted a life with more dimensions - rather I found their lifestyles unappealing. But that's on me , not them.

I become irritated when reading in a climbing forum arguments against carrying medical insurance. Why waste the money when you can start a Gofundme account and have others pay your bills?

It's a matter of accepting or avoiding responsibility for your own actions. Call me puritanical, I suppose.

I would support a UBI if it required some sort of contribution to the common good scaled to the recipient's capabilities. Giving away money, no.

I suspect the OP may have been written by AI. But look at the conversation it triggered!

Living in Colorado I think about this occasionally: Yellowstone Caldera — jgill

Does it present an imminent threat for the people in Colorado? I hope not! :pray:
Anyway, this is a local problem. Here, we are talking about the whole humanity. — Alkis Piskas

This eruption 2.1 million years ago—among the largest volcanic eruptions known to man—coated 5,790 square miles with ash, as far away as Missouri. The total volcanic material ejected is estimated to have been 6,000 times the volume of material ejected during the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, in Washington.

I recall reading the ash in Missouri was several feet deep. Volcanic eruptions are nothing to sneeze at.

For a mathematician four dimensions simply means one more variable to deal with. A three dimensional cylinder $F\left( x,z,y \right)=0,\text{ }{{x}^{2}}+{{z}^{2}}-{{r}^{2}}=0$ is a circular cylinder extending along the y-axis infinitely in both directions. Its four dimensional counterpart could be written $F\left( x,z,y,w \right)=0,\text{ }{{x}^{2}}+{{z}^{2}}+{{y}^{2}}-{{r}^{2}}=0$ which extends along the mysterious w-axis. Unfortunately, we are unable to see into this fourth dimension, only work with it mathematically. In this example a 3D slice of the 4D figure is a sphere.

Strange things happen when objects are "compressed" down from ND to (N-1)D. Here one sees a series of corrugated "roofs" being squeezed down from wrinkled 3D to a 2D flat square with a bizarre result.

We have to exclude of course known natural phenomena and potential dangers for which Man is not and will not be responsible. Of which, I can't think any at this moment. — Alkis Piskas

Living in Colorado I think about this occasionally: Yellowstone Caldera